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The North Star
Join Shaun as he unpacks the most important stories of injustice, racism and corruption, but also tells you who's fighting back and how you can support and join them with practical action steps.
Ep. 200 - Celebrating Episode #200 with some special messages from our listeners
On today's special episode of The Breakdown we celebrate everyone who has come this far with us and hear from our listeners on what they love most about the podcast.
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29:1823/03/2020
Ep. 199 - We must have an agenda. If we don't, the one that gets set for us, will not be good enough
In the next few days, government leaders on every level are going to be making long term decisions on how to fight back against the coronavirus. We need to make sure we tell them what that agenda need to be.
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22:3820/03/2020
Ep. 198 - Trump and conservatives are about to left-flank and outmaneuver Democrats
We've entered into a phase of this pandemic where politicians and corporations are thinking on how they can use this crisis for their financial and political gain. Trump and conservatives are doing something that could prove perilous for Democrats.
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17:3119/03/2020
Ep. 197 - Let's be mindful of how this moment is impacting children & teenagers
Today is Shaun's daughter, Kendi, turns 18 years old, but is stuck in the house, with school canceled, and everything else canceled as well. Today, Shaun talks about how the coronavirus is going to impact not just his family, but America's children.
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16:2318/03/2020
Ep. 196 - Your city needs to stop these 2 things right now.
All over the country we need cities and states to immediately stop evictions and the shutting off of utilities. Smart cities are already doing this. Is yours?
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16:1717/03/2020
Ep. 195 - Join our new team to help people impacted by the Coronavirus
Colleges and schools are closed. Thousands of businesses have shut down. People are afraid and they are out of work. We're forming our own mutual aid society to help one another. Listen and join us today.
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16:1916/03/2020
Ep. 194 - Trump and America's governors need to release sick & elderly people from prison starting TODAY
The coronavirus is going to impact the most vulnerable people and communities among us. Today Shaun starts to unpack what that's going to mean for America's jails and prisons.
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15:4913/03/2020
Ep. 193 - Why it took Tom Hanks and the NBA to wake America up.
The NBA season was just suspended. Tom Hanks has the coronavirus. The NCAA tournament is going to be played without fans. And the President is still a complete idiot. Today will go down in history as the first day the entire nation fully understood the impact of the Coronavirus.
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20:2712/03/2020
Ep. 192 - Colleges shutting down across the country, the election, and a police shooting in Raleigh
Today Shaun unpacks and explains the impact of colleges and universities shutting down for the coronavirus across the country. Also, he shares some thoughts on the elections yesterday and closes with painful audio of the aftermath of a police shooting in Raleigh. Plus, our first woman crush Wednesday segment.
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21:2411/03/2020
Ep. 191 - Coronavirus Special + Action Steps
On this special episode of The Breakdown Shaun unpacks and explains why The United States is in a particularly dangerous position with the coronavirus and what we can do about it.
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20:4410/03/2020
Ep. 190 - The execution of Nate Woods is NOT a moment of closure.
Working with the family of Nate Woods this weekend, Shaun noticed one big difference between an execution and a case of police violence. Today he unpacks it for us.
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14:5609/03/2020
Ep. 189 - Mourning the murder of Nate Woods
Yesterday, the state of Alabama murdered an innocent man. On today's episode, Shaun unpacks this painful ordeal. We are devastated, but unfortunately we are not surprised.
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16:3406/03/2020
Ep. 188 - An innocent man is about to be lynched in Alabama
In hours, the State of Alabama is set to execute a man they fully know never killed a single soul in his life. It's a legal lynching. Listen, then go to SaveNate.com to fight back to stop this. We can't give up!!
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06:2005/03/2020
Ep. 187 - Recap of Super Tuesday + 1 day left to save Nate
Shaun unpacks and explains his thoughts on Super Tuesday, Bloomberg dropping out, and our fight to save Nate Woods
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13:0204/03/2020
Ep. 186 - SaveNate.com
Today is Super Tuesday, but the biggest thing on my mind is saving the life of Nate Woods, who’s scheduled to be executed in this Thursday. We have new action steps for you to take at SaveNate.com.
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15:5703/03/2020
Ep. 185 - He's going to be executed on Thursday, but he didn't pull the trigger.
Nathaniel Woods. Say his name. He is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, but he didn't even pull the trigger. Nobody says he did. And the shooter says he had nothing to do with the crime.
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12:3128/02/2020
Ep. 184 - They arrested a 6 year old girl. Here’s what we can do about it.
Months we learned that the Orlando Police arrested a 6 year old girl. You helped us get the officer fired. Today we see the video. Here’s what we do to prevent this from ever happening again.
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19:5127/02/2020
Ep. 183 - The highs & lows of last nights presidential debate
The debate last night was a mess. Period. But today Shaun breaks down a high moment, a low moment, and says why the whole thing was bad for the Democratic Party.
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15:2626/02/2020
Ep. 182 - Nobody belongs at Rikers - not even Harvey Weinstein + the remarks from Michael Jordan at the Kobe Memorial
Today Shaun reflects on the conviction of Harvey Weinstein for sex crimes, but offers what may be a surprising critique of the celebrations. Also, Shaun reflects on the words of Michael Jordan at the Kobe & Gigi Bryant Memorial.
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25:0525/02/2020
Ep. 181 - Save this number in your phone please.
Today we begin making phone calls for Myon Burrell. Don't worry, I'll talk you through all of it.
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13:2421/02/2020
Ep. 180 - FreeMyonBurrell.com
It’s up to us to free Myon Burrell! 17 years ago, Myon was charged and convicted of a murder that he did not commit. He is completely innocent, and has been in prison since 2002. We can't just stand by. Today Shaun lays the framework for how we will free him. Listen for two action steps that should leave us looking within. Visit FreeMyonBurrell.com right now for more details.
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13:0020/02/2020
Ep. 179 - Do you know about Myon Burrell?
In 2002 a teenage boy named Myon Burrell was arrested for a murder he had absolutely nothing to do with. Today we will begin our efforts to educate you on his case and then building a campaign to set him free.
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18:4518/02/2020
Ep. 178 - Trevor Noah with a raw after-show moment on the brutality of Mike Bloomberg
Today Shaun not only breaks down a very transparent after-show moment Trevor Noah had discussing the brutality of Mike Bloomberg, he plays the key audio clips of Bloomberg that Trevor is addressing.
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18:4917/02/2020
Ep. 177 - Happy Douglass Day!
Today is the 1 year anniversary of The North Star and the day Frederick Douglass chose as his birthday. Shaun shares a story about this and more.
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12:2814/02/2020
Ep. 176 - I will not exchange one brutal oppressor for another
In our efforts to beat Trump, Shaun has preached for over a year that he would support whoever won the democratic primary. But upon further review, he has quickly determined that Mike Bloomberg is simply a line that he can not cross. Listen in as he explains why.
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12:5513/02/2020
Ep. 175 - #BloombergIsRacist
You need to hear these two racist bombshell clips from Michael Bloomberg. He should never serve in office again.
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13:5411/02/2020
Ep. 174 - My take on Gayle, Snoop, Oprah, Kobe, and public grief
It's ugly. Today Shaun weighs in with his transparent thoughts on the very public spectacle not just between Gayle King and Snoop, but with millions of hurting, grieving people.
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43:5810/02/2020
Ep. 173 - A murder w/ little evidence in Orlando, police abuse in Austin, and an update on voting in Iowa.
Today Shaun has 3 stories and an action step for us - starting in Florida where the Republican governor took power away from a good local prosecutor. Also, an update on voting in Iowa and an action step on tasering case in Austin, Texas.
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24:0206/02/2020
Ep. 172 - 3 days and Iowa is still up in the air
I’ve never seen this happen before. It’s a sad symptom of our fragile democracy and opens up a real opportunity for Trump to exploit such weakness
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19:2505/02/2020
Ep. 171 - Iowa was a complete mess
A quick reflection from Shaun on the first Democratic primary in the nation. It was an unorganized mess.
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11:5204/02/2020
Ep. 170 - Iowa begins voting and Joaquin Phoenix uses his white privilege
Today is the first full day of the Democratic primaries as voters in Iowa kick it off. Shaun gives some thoughts on Iowa and then discusses the bold words made by Joaquin Phoenix last night.
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14:2803/02/2020
Ep. 169 - When Joe Biden began pretending he was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement :: Part 2 of 2.
In the 2020 campaign Joe Biden flat out lying to say that he was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Today Shaun tells us the story of when this began and why.
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41:5331/01/2020
Ep. 168 - Confronting the Cultural Appropriation of Joe Biden :: Part 1 of 2
This is the biggest story released yet to air on The Breakdown. For nearly 50 years Joe Biden has pretended to have been an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. The time has come to confront it. Today and tomorrow, Shaun systematically breaks down Biden's lies and what they mean.
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01:03:5530/01/2020
Ep. 167 - Working overtime on a special story
Shaun checks in with a quick message. He is currently working on an extremely important story and needs more time.
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02:0029/01/2020
Ep. 166 - Corrupt Chicago billionaire trying to buy the local justice system
Well, this is new. A corrupt Chicago billionaire is trying to buy the DA’s office. Shaun also gives updates on Michael Thompson and Parchman Prison.
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15:0928/01/2020
Ep. 165 - Grief and Mortality
A personal message from Shaun.
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16:1827/01/2020
Ep. 164 - Brilliant Black boy suspended from school for his natural hairstyle
Today Shaun has two important action steps for you to take - one on behalf of a brilliant boy who needs our help and another on behalf of Michael Thompson who we are trying to help get out of prison.
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15:3724/01/2020
Ep. 163 - Letters for Michael Thompson and an update on Parchman Prison
Yesterday, over 10,000 of you went to FreeMichaelThompson.com and wrote a letter on behalf of Michael Thompson! A great job, but we need more! Shaun updates us on Michael's case as well as gives an update on Mississippi's Parchman Prison.
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18:4223/01/2020
Ep. 162 - Free Michael Thompson
In just 7 days we are going to be submitting a clemency petition on behalf of Michael Thompson - a kind, compassionate soul who has spent 25 hard years in prison for selling weed in Michigan - a state that just made weed legal. And we need your help.
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15:5122/01/2020
Ep. 161 - Are you going to vote?
Did you know that the majority of Americans don't vote? Today I ask you to not only commit to vote, but commit to being an informed voter that brings others with you.
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19:5721/01/2020
Ep. 160 - MLK 360 - Special King Day Episode
The words and legacy of Dr. King have been reduced and sanitized in so many ways. Today Shaun King plays 5 very special audio clips of Dr. King that you have likely never heard before and breaks down why they are so very important.
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25:2820/01/2020
Ep. 159 - LAPD is framing people as being in gangs
The LAPD has been caught in yet another scandal framing people as being in gangs. Today Shaun begins to unpack and explain this. Then, he invites Nikki Rojas, a writer for The North Star on to talk about voter suppression in Wisconsin.
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18:3817/01/2020
Ep. 158 - The Human Rights Atrocities in Mississippi Prisons
Today Shaun discusses a conversation that caused him to really check who he cares about and why - then begins the conversation about the despicable human rights conditions in Mississippi prisons
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19:1616/01/2020
Ep. 157 - The most revolutionary civil rights action so far in 2020
Kim Gardner, a brilliant, bold, progressive prosecutor in St. Louis just filed suit against powerful white special interests in law enforcement using the KKK Act of 1871. And it's amazing.
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19:1115/01/2020
Ep. 156 - When you threaten the status quo, all hell will break loose
Yesterday it was said that Bernie Sanders said a woman could not be President. It trended. It went viral. But sources tell me and The Washington Post that it never happened.
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22:4014/01/2020
Ep. 155 - Good news from Marshawn, Will Smith, and Chesa Boudin
You need some good news in your life. Today Shaun brings you three good news stories from San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, NFL star Marshawn Lynch, and Will Smith. Listen, smile, and learn.
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18:1413/01/2020
Ep. 154 - Why Trump thinks he can assassinate foreign leaders in broad daylight
Today Shaun unpacks the intellectual foundation for why Donald Trump believed he could openly assassinate a foreign leader and get away with it. Then we begin discussing something the problematic fact that New York is giving some of its most important justice reforms just 9 days before giving up on them. We have action steps.
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30:4709/01/2020
Ep. 153 - Happy New Year...Kind of
On our first episode of 2020 Shaun wishes us happy new year as our nation is on the brink of World War III.
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06:0506/01/2020
Ep. 152 - Trump welcomes and celebrates a war criminal
Do you know the name Eddie Gallagher? He is a violent, bigoted war criminal that Trump absolutely adores. Today Shaun unpacks and explains this and also details the despicable conditions of prisons in Mississippi.
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21:1030/12/2019
Ep. 151 - Happy Holidays from Shaun
A holiday greeting from Shaun King and a quick reflection on this past year.
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04:0429/12/2019